Doggy Hamlet by Ann Carlson | VPL Residency | Photo by Kelly Fletcher
Rural Arts Partners
Rural Arts Partners supports projects at the intersection of art and civic engagement, with a focus on experiential, participatory work developed in partnership with Vermont communities. The program is designed to demonstrate the role of artists and community-based organizations in advancing civic life across Vermont.
Designed specifically for rural contexts where community-based organizations are often small, deeply embedded in place, and closely connected to community life the program provides flexible support for experimentation, leadership, and learning at moments when new approaches to community development are needed.
The program provides multi-year project support for a leadership cohort of Vermont artists and community-based organizations. Each partnership focuses on advancing work in one or more of three priority areas.
- Art, Civic Life, and Belonging
Projects that use art and social practice to spark dialogue, foster belonging, and strengthen community connections. - Artistic Experimentation in Rural Contexts
Projects that expand the potential of the performing arts in rural contexts through participatory and socially engaged practice experimenting with new forms, sites, and approaches to engaging non-traditional partners, audiences, and participants. - Catalysts for Social or Environmental Change
Projects that respond to social or environmental issues, through collaborative, place-based practice building community resilience, raising visibility of overlooked challenges or opportunities, and contributing to community-driven solutions.
The inaugural cohort of Rural Arts Partners will be announced in October 2026. The program is currently by invitation only.
